DEA continues pot raids Obama opposes
Thursday, February 5th, 2009 at 8:48 am | By: Radical Russ
Drug Enforcement Administration agents this week raided four medical marijuana shops in California, contrary to President Obama’s campaign promises to stop the raids.
The White House said it expects those kinds of raids to end once Mr. Obama nominates someone to take charge of DEA, which is still run by Bush administration holdovers.
“The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws, and as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind,” White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said.
Mr. Obama is still filling key law enforcement posts. For now, DEA is run by acting Administrator Michele Leonhart, a Bush appointee.
Special Agent Sarah Pullen of the DEA’s Los Angeles office said agents raided four marijuana dispensaries about noon Tuesday. Two were in Venice and one each was in Marina Del Rey and Playa Del Ray — all in the Los Angeles area.
Agent Pullen said the four raids seized $10,000 in cash and 224 kilograms of marijuana and marijuana-laced food, such as cookies. No one was arrested, she said, but the raid is part of an ongoing investigation seeking to trace the marijuana back to its suppliers or source.
[Kris Hermes of Americans for Safe Access] said he is aware that Mr. Obama has not installed his own DEA chief but that new Attorney General “Eric Holder can still suspend these types of operations.”
The Justice Department referred questions to the White House.
via Washington Times – DEA continues pot raids Obama opposes .
Well, gee, it’s been two weeks now… having trouble finding someone to run the DEA who’s paid all their taxes, Mr. Obama?
This is the lamest cop-out since President Bush blamed Abu Ghraib torture on low-ranking reservists from West Virginia. You are the president. The Justice Department takes their orders from you, no matter who appointed them to the post. I don’t care of the DEA administrator was a Bush appointee or the putrid ghost of Harry J. Anslinger risen from the grave, you can write a simple memo to Acting Administrator Michele Leonhart:
From: POTUS
To: Acting DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart
Re: DEA raids on medical marijuana states
Date: January 20, 2009
Ms. Leonhart,
Regarding the Bush Administration policy of “smash-n-grab” raids of medical marijuana providers in California and the other 12 states that have legalized the medical use of marijuana: You will cease these actions and any planned actions immediately.
BHO
The fact that you can’t communicate such a simple order in two weeks shows how little respect you have for sick, dying, and sense-threatened Californians and the worth of your campaign promises. How many more raids will happen in the time it takes you to replace Leonhart? Every raid is a raid you had the power to stop and didn’t, sir. Obama, you’re doing a heckuva job!
Topics: Administrator Michele Leonhart, Americans for Safe Access, California, DEA, DEA Raids, dispensaries, drug enforcement administration, Los Angeles, President Obama, Venice, Washington Times
screw the dea they just want people to feel as stupid as they do and they want people who are sick and in pain who need this vital medicine to suffer not because it gets you “high”, but because it makes them feel powerful, that they have the authority over someone else to pretty much tell them what to do and how to live their lives
Hello Seedlings ;)
I have a website that is specifically for medical marijuana if you use the link in my name it will direct you to it . . .
JoeBlow, I agree with you, also i think an ongoing and updated list of applicable web sites/forums that are blogging about the issues would be cool for us. i am retired but even with nothing better to do than surf for forums to blog all day i don’t find all of them and in some forums i find im the only one remarking about our issues.
I am going to follow up on this issue directly with whitehouse.gov with an e-mail.
Such travesty on patients like me is immoral.
This administration is also tending to the immoral.
I will also attempt blog this fact everywhere I go. You should too. I believe in digital dharma. What we write online has become immortal. It will be read by the many generations that will follow. We can by blogging widely in all forums make everyone aware of the sham that this current administration is also perpetrating on innocent patients like me.
Hello,
We all know, change is a big thing and it takes time to get used to new things that surround us. But it is terrible when the laws are not followed by the ones whom was told by the President to quit going after the sick and dying citizens whom benifit from the use of cannabis.
You are not above the President, and our new President is well respected. I would like to see DEA work with the State on this issue and find a soulution to still keep your jobs and also stop harrassing the sick . We are not criminals whom abuse this law. Please reschedule and allow us to live in peace instead of fear. Work with the people not against them and bring the respect back to our government afficials .
Hello Russ,
Beautiful memo. I’m grateful alternet posted on it and I’m glad to learn of your podcast site.
One of the replies on alternet suggested you as a guest on DemocracyNow! and laudably took action by writing them and saying so. I concur.
Clearly, President Obama is no Dennis Kucinich. Much else about our new president is certainly less clear. The last line quoted above from the Washington Times article, ‘The Justice Department referred questions to the White House. seems quite telling on that point. Directly holding Obama’s feet to the fire to do the right thing is a direct and simple and obvious and honorable approach -all of which are good reasons for taking it and moreover necessitating it be taken. However, with it done, we might need consider his differences from earnest and genuine leaders such as the aforementioned Kucinich and find out why Obama keeps balls in the air, what he’s specifically waiting for in political capital terms, and what his political obstacles and penalties actually are. In short, what overt circumstances would actually persuade and impel him. For all my mention of Kucinich, given Obama’s juggling and perverse appointments and supposed ‘bi-partisanship’, could it be we might actually consider drawing Ron Paul into the issue as an advocate to the White House? Mike Gravel as well may well be approached -Kucinich too. Perhaps the three might do well to join together in an effort.
John Farwell
OKC, OK
[...] Okay, maybe I missed something but last time I checked Barack Obama is, in fact, the 44th President of the United States — which means he has the authority to tell both the US Department of Justice and DEA Acting Administrator Michele Leonhart: “No more raids. Period!” (NORML podcaster Russ Belville has already drafted Obama the requisite memo here.) [...]
Please post an article explaining the exact steps we, (norml readers and advocates for reform) we can do to help move this process along. Do you need money? Do you need us to contact news organizations? Representatives? Which ones? What can we do to make our voice heard by everybody?
Everything you said is 1000% correct. He is the president what is he waiting for. You da boss now Mr.Pres so get those thugs out of any state that has passed the right to use medical pot. Just watching the news tonight and seeing how he’s fighting for the stimulus package and how he’s run up against the republican wall makes me wonder if he as become a tad overwhelmed with his new job? sure do hope that’s not the case otherwise we (patients) get screwed.
As a disabled veteran I have had medican with held from me because I tested pos. for pot. I have used pot to treat my ptsd for years. an it was all wright with v.a. then some one change there rules so they with held my pain medican till I no longer tested pos.so for 8wks I suffered in pain till I tested OK.The V.A. have not found any thing that works for my ptsd. so I now suffer depression do nothing bur sleep i wish that some thing could be done about the
arijuana law so i could live a half way normal life DAniel Mullin
Russ,
Have you ever tried to get on Democracy Now? This story might be a good one to try that. Through their site I’ve recommended they cover this story and talk to you for a good person to interview.
I agree with an article I read posted by Peter Guither at DrugWarRant.com
It might be three years from now we say hey, there hasn’t been a medical marijuana raid in 6 months! But I dont personally think it will be announced. -Jake AZ4NORML